AUBURN | The Tigers have shown improvement by any measure during their first two games of the season, but coach Gus Malzahn said Tuesday that none of that matters now.

Mississippi State comes to town Saturday.

That's when another eight-game trip through the most difficult conference in college football begins for Auburn. Malzahn knows the stakes are about to multiply.

"It's a different season now, he said Tuesday morning. "And the older guys understand that."

Auburn, incredibly, has lost 10 consecutive SEC games dating back to a win against Ole Miss on Oct. 29, 2011. Since then, the Tigers have been outscored 349-102 in league games and only twice finished within two touchdowns of the opponent.